The Ohio High School Athletic Association

Bowling
Frequently Asked Questions
2006-07

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These frequently asked questions are specific to the sport of bowling and the sport regulations associated with it. The constitution and bylaws of the OHSAA apply to bowling as they do to all of the other recognized OHSAA interscholastic sports.

Q. As a member of a school sponsored team, can an individual continue to bowl on a non-school league team when also a member of a school team? Can a member of a school sponsored bowling team bowl in a charity event during the school season? What about a scholarship competition?

A. No. When a school has indicated to the OHSAA that it will sponsor bowling, no member of that school team can simultaneously bowl for a school-sponsored team and a non-school sponsored team. A team member cannot bowl in a non-school sponsored tournament, scholarship or charity competition. Once a member of a school-sponsored team begins his/her season by participating in a contest, including bowling in any scrimmages, non-interscholastic competition is no longer permitted.

Q.   If a team member wants to bowl in a league and join the school-sponsored team at a later date, is this permissible?

A. Yes. There is a Non-Interscholastic Participation Date established for each sport recognized by the OHSAA. This date is 28 days prior to the Monday of the OHSAA state tournament for that sport. The non-interscholastic participation date established for the 2006-07 bowling season is January 29, 2007. In order for a student-athlete to participate in the OHSAA post-season tournament, the student-athlete must stop participating in non-interscholastic bowling by this date. It is important to remember that a student-athlete cannot participate in a non-interscholastic event while bowling on a school- sponsored team. Such ‘dual’ competition would render a student-athlete ineligible for interscholastic bowling.

Q. Will my high school “club” team be permitted to participate in the OHSAA post-season tournament?

A. This may be the most frequently asked question. The OHSAA does not label sports as club or varsity. Each spring the OHSAA sends a sports participation card to every member school. The principal (or designee) must designate on the card which interscholastic sports the school will sponsor during the upcoming school year. The deadline for the sports participation card is May 1. The school administrator must indicate that the school will sponsor bowling and whether or not the school will enter the OHSAA post season tournament. The deadline date for entering (or withdrawing from) the OHSAA State Tournament is November 10. Schools that failed to indicate that they would sponsor bowling on the sport participation card can mail a letter, on official school letterhead, to the OHSAA indicating that they will participate in the OHSAA tournament. This letter must be received by November 10 in order to participate without penalty.

Q. How does the OHSAA adoption of bowling as an interscholastic sport affect a team’s regular season? For example, can a school participate in a contest with a non-interscholastic team?

A. The OHSAA does not determine conference affiliation or which teams a school will compete against. OHSAA sports regulations prohibit more than 22 contests in a regular season. A school-sponsored team may bowl against a non-school sponsored team provided the non-school sponsored team is in compliance with the playing rules of the OHSAA. Bylaw 9-Contests Requiring Special Attention- in the OHSAA Handbook addresses contests with non-interscholastic teams.

Q. What will constitute an official regular season match?

A. A regular season match will consist of a minimum of two regular games of tenpin regulation scoring followed by two Baker games. Total combined pins for all games bowled shall win the match. Regular season matches in which more than the minimum number of games are bowled (excluding tournaments) require the permission of the participating schools.

Q. What is a Baker game?

A. A Baker game consists of 10 frames, but each of the five participating bowlers only bowl two frames each. Bowler #1 bowls the first and sixth frames, bowler #2 bowls the second and seventh frames, bowler #3 the third and eighth frame, etc. until all 10 frames are bowled.

Q. How many matches can a team bowl in a regular season? 

A.  An interscholastic team and/or an individual can bowl in no more than 22 contests. Each interscholastic contest counts (with the exception of scrimmages). Regular season tournaments with multiple teams count as one contest.  However, a tournament that is designed to run more than one day shall count as the same number of matches as days of the tournament.

Q. Have some dates for the 2006-07 bowling season been established?

A. Yes. Coaching/tryouts may begin on November 10, 2006. A maximum of two scrimmages may be bowled after November 10 and prior to the end of the season. Regular season competition begins on November 17, 2006. The non-interscholastic participation date is January 29, 2007. The sectional tournament will run from February 11-February 18 2007. The district tournament will be held the following week. The Girls State Bowling Tournament will be Friday, March 2, 2007. The Boys State Bowling Tournament is scheduled for March 3, 2007.

Q. Is a member of an interscholastic bowling team required to have a physical exam?

A. Yes. All interscholastic athletes must have a physical and complete all required forms. These forms must be filed with the designated school administrator prior to any practice or competition.

Q. What are the coaching requirements for Bowling?

A. The requirements to coach interscholastic bowling are identical to those for other interscholastic sports. At a minimum a coach must obtain a Pupil Activity Supervisor Permit and CPR training as required by the Ohio Department of Education. Each Board of Education may determine if there are additional coaching requirements. For further information on the ODE Pupil Supervisory Permit go to www.ohsaa.org and click on Coaches Corner.

Q. Who serves as the contest official?

A. The home school coach shall serve as the contest official, enforcing all OHSAA regulations and USBC rules.

Q. What kind of expenses should we plan on?

A. Bowling is a relatively inexpensive sport. Team members must wear the same sleeved, bowling shirt, which conforms to school/OHSAA regulations. All players must wear the same color pants. Girls are permitted to wear skirts provided the skirts are of the same color as the pants. Bowling balls and bowling shoes are also required. Each Bowling Center determines its own fees; many Bowling Centers may reduce lane fees for interscholastic teams.

Q. Are there any transportation issues with which we should be familiar?

A. Transportation is a local school issue. All questions regarding transportation to and from practice and competitions should be directed to a school’s athletic administrator. Please refer to the OHSAA Sports Regulations in the OHSAA Handbook (item #21) for more information regarding transportation to and from interscholastic contests.

Q. How can I locate a Bowling Center near my school? 

A. You can locate a bowling center at www.bowlohio.com. Click on “members” and you will be able to view a list of bowling centers and the city in which each center is located.

Q. Who can I contact at the OHSAA if I have additional questions regarding Bowling?

A. You can contact Roxanne Price, Director of Membership Services. Ms. Price can be reached at (614) 267-2502, ext. 124 or you can email her at rprice@ohsaa.org

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